Fact of the day

At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Fritz Thiedemann - who had commanded a German cavalry unit during World War Two before being captured towards the end and interned in a Russian prison camp - created a unique piece of history. The farmer's son earned bronze medals in both individual show jumping and team dressage to become the only rider in Olympic history to win medals in two equestrian disciplines at the same Games. He went on to gold medals in team jumping at the 1956 Olympics, when the equestrian events were held in Stockholm, and Rome 1960. The Thiedemann rein is named after him.

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First pair of tickets for Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony given to competition winner

Sunday, 08 July 2012

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By Tom Degun

July 8 - The first pair of tickets for the Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony, and indeed the entire Commonwealth Games, has been given to Scotland's Claire Bell after she won them through the Organising Committee's Sport Your Trainers campaign, which encourages people across the country to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

The Opening Ceremony will take place at the 60,000-capacity Celtic Park (pictured below) on July 23 in two years' time and it is set to be one of the biggest sporting events in Scotland's history.

The 38-year-old Bell from Kirkcaldy near Edinburgh saw an advert for the campaign and decided to get involved.

By joining it, she was automatically entered into a prize draw to secure the precious Opening Ceremony tickets and she has subsequently secured two seats to watch the event unfold.

Bell and her husband, David (pictured top), were given the tickets on the pitch at Celtic Park by Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg and she said that it was an amazing moment for her.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have the first pair of tickets to the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games," said Bell.

"I remember watching the Handover Ceremony from the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on TV and feeling so proud to be Scottish.

"Standing in the stadium with empty seats puts shivers down your neck and I can't wait to be there to experience the Opening Ceremony live.

"It's going to be an amazing experience."

The Sport Your Trainers campaign encourages Scots to wear their trainers on Commonwealth Day, which is held on the second Monday in March each year.

This year, Commonwealth Day took place on March 12 and Glasgow 2014's campaign saw people of all ages, from all parts of the country, walk to work or go for a stroll at lunchtime.

"Opening Ceremonies are defining moments in a Commonwealth Games," said Grevemberg.

"The Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony will be no different as we kick off the biggest sporting event in Scotland's history.

"Congratulations to Claire on winning the first pair of tickets.

"The Glasgow 2014 sporting competition takes place over 17 days in 2014 but the lasting impact that Glasgow 2014 has on Scotland lies in campaigns such as Sport Your Trainers.

"If we can encourage more Scots to take up exercise and lead healthier lifestyles, all the better."

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